Anti-drip attachment for viscous material dispenser



y 1968 c. a. AUSTIN, JR.. ETAL 3,385,479

ANTI-DRIP ATTACHMENT FOR VIS COUS MATERIAL DISPENSER Filed Aug. 25, 19662 Sheets$heet 1 INVENTOR. mamas fAvs'nmJe Homzo Z 6422:

United States Patent 3,385,479 ANTI-DRIP ATTACHMENT FOR VISCOUS MATERIALDISPENSER Clarence G. Austin, Jr., and Howard R. Garrett, Woodstock,Ill., assignors to The Pre-O-Form Corporation, Warsaw, Ind., acorporation of Indiana Filed Aug. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 575,039 6 Claims.(Cl. 222-309) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A filling and dispensingmechanism for viscous materials which includes a constant-volumemeasuring device associated through a diverting valve with a storagehopper and an antidrip valve in the outlet of the diverting valve tocontrol dispensing and prevent drip of the material after the dispensingoperation is completed. The diverting valve in one position controls aflow passage from the hopper to the constant-volume measuring mechanismand in a second position provides an outlet from the constant volumemeasuring position through an outlet spout which includes the antidripvalve. The latter is opened Whenever the diverting valve connects theconstant volume measuring chamber to the outlet spout and closes thepassage to the hopper. The structure includes a single means foroperating the same and the antidrip valve is formed to be a deformablespout and the pivoted roller mechanism which rolls on the deformablespout to seal the same.

This invention relates to a filling or dispensing mechanism for viscousmaterials and more particularly to an im-.

. of varying viscosity are known and in use. Such structures do not lendthemselves to accuracy in dispensing, ease in maintenance, and permitdripping of the material being dispensed on the containers being filled.This results in additional handling and permits the possibility ofbacteria growth on the dispensing mechanism to create health problems.The improved dispensing mechanism or filler of the present inventionincludes in combination with a dispensing mechanism an anti-drip valvehaving no moving parts in contact with the material being dispensed,which valve will move the material in the outlet portion of thedispenser out of the same to insure that such material will be placedinside a container. The improved dispensing mechanism in combinationwith the anti-drip valve provides a structure which is readilymaintained and cleaned to meet sanitation code requirements.

The improved dispensing mechanism or filler is of the constant volumetype with a veneer type adjustment to insure accuracy in the measuringportion of the dispenser. The actuating motors for the dispensingmechanism are readily connectable and disconnectable thereto forcleaning purposes. The particular arrangement of the actuating motor tothe constant volume dispenser which utilizes a chamber with a pistontherein insures adjustability of the dispenser for varying volume sizes,minor adjustment for accuracy in volume measurement and a simplifiedarrangement of parts for ease in assembly and disassembly. The improveddispenser includes an anti-drip valve of the deformable tube type withan actuating or deforming mechanism positioned outside of possiblecontact with the material being dispensed and which will operate to movethe material in the dispensing spout out of the same positively sealingthe spout to prevent drip therefrom.

It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide animproved filling mechanism for viscous or similar fluid materials.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a filling mechanism ofthis type an arrangement of parts which permits adjustment in volume andaccuracy in measurement.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improvedfilling mechanism which is readily assembled and disassembled forcleaning and maintenance purposes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a fillingmechanism a combination of a dispensing mechanism and an anti-drip valvewith the valve of the dispensing mechanism operated simultaneously withthe anti-drip valve from a single actuator.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in a fillingmechanism of this type an improved anti-drip valve having a deformablespout which will positively seal and remove the material being dispensedtherefrom.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from areading of the attached description together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the improved filling mechanismshown in conjunction with a filling and sealing machine,

FIGURE .2 is a sectional view of the filling mechanism taken along thelines 2-2 in FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the improved filling mechanism takenalong the lines 33 in FIGURE 2,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the improved fillingmechanism showing the anti-drip valve and taken along the lines 44 inFIGURE 3,

FIGURE 5 is a bottom view of a portion of the improved filling mechanismshowing the improved anti-drip valve in an open position,

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of a portion of the improved filling mechanismshowing the improved anti-drip valve in a closed position and,

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view of the diverting valve of the fillingmechanism taken along the lines 7-7 in FIGURE 1.

Our invention relates to a filler device or machine particularly adaptedfor use with viscous material of a semifluid nature which has a tendencyto stick to filling apparatus and raise problems of maintenance andcleaning in the filling operation. This invention is shown inconjunction with a conventional filler and sealing machine, shown inpart in elevation View in FIGURE 1 for the purpose of explaininggenerally the overall operation of the structure. It will be recognizedthat the particular form of the overall filling machine may vary and thepresent invention relates particularly to the filling mechanism. Thus inFIGURE 1, a conventional filling and sealing machine is shown generallyat 10 as including a base or frame 12 having mounted on it a suitableguide structure 14 for the purpose of guiding preformed paper cartons,such as is indicated at 15, along a table or top portion 18 of the same.An upright supporting structure 20 mounted on the table part mounts andjournals in part suitable conveying apparatus shown at arms 22 operatedthrough suitable linkage and actuating mechanisms (not shown) for thepurpose of moving the cartons to be filled along the conveying line onthe tabletop as evidenced by the guide structure 14. A filling device isshown generally at 30 at one side of the table with details of thestructure for positioning the cartons on the table being omitted forsimplicity. After the cartons are moved beneath the filling mechanismand are filled, they are directed underneath a heater, indicatedgenerally at 32, wherein the top foldable flaps of the same are heatedand deflected toward a closed position as indicated by the deflectingrails 34 to be clamped or sealed together by means of a sealing orclamping mechanism 35. The additional structure for removing the cartonsfrom the table surface and conveying line is also omitted. Thisstructure is controlled through suitable control circuitry, indicated bythe control box 40, which includes a suitable timing mechanism. It willbe recognized that the filling mechanism will be operated in sequencewith the conveying mechanism or arms 22 and the clamping jaws in apulsed or stepped sequence of operation as dictated by the controlcircuit and particularly by the timer therein. Such structure may befound in our Patent No. 3,307,325, dated Mar. 7, 1967, and entitledCarton Forming and Filling Machine.

The filling device or mechanism will best be seen in FIGURES 2 and 7.The filling device or dispensing mechanism includes basically a hopper42 in which material to be dispensed is stored in bulk form with adiverting valve 44 connected thereto which is adapted to divert materialfrom the hopper to a measuring mechanism, to be hereinafter identified.The hopper 42 is physically mounted on the body 44 of the divertingvalve which body has a cylindrical recess 45 therein with a rotatingcylindrical valve element 46 having a port passage 47 therein. The body44 of the diverting valve has an inlet passage 50 shown in phantom witha first outlet passage 51 leading to the measuring portion of thedispensing mechanism and a second outlet passage 52 leading to a secondoutlet of the dispensing valve. The body 44 of the dispensing valve isgenerally rectangular in form and includes a cover plate 55 secured tothe body by screws 56 which are readily removable to remove the plate 55and hence the rotating element 46 thereof for maintenance purposes.Attached to the body 44 of the diverting valve at the outlet passage 51is a measuring cylinder 60 having a port at one extremity of the same,as indicated at 62 which is connected in common with the outlet passage51. Cylinder 60 is secured to the body 41 of the diverting valve at aflange section 63 through suitable means such as screws (not shown). Thecylinder 60 at its opposite extremity is open, as indicated at 65, and apiston 66 is positioned within the confines of the cylinder and sealedto the walls thereof through suitable 0 rings or sealing members 68. Thepiston 66 is movable within the confines of the cylinder for the purposeof drawing material from the hopper 42 through the dispensing valve intothe same and urging such material out of the confines of the cylinderand through the outlet passages 51, 52 and the port 47 in the rotatingelement 46 of the diverting valve with opposite movement of the pistonfor the purpose of dispensing the material. This measuring device is ofthe constant volume type with the piston element being movable betweenthe port end of the cylinder to a predetermined position along theextent of the cylinder to define a constant volume within the cylinderwhich is adapted to be filled with the material to be dispensed witheach dispensing operation for the purpose of measuring a constantvolume. Piston 66 is operated by means of a hydraulic actuator whichincludes a cylinder 70 and a piston 72 therein attached to a hollowshaft 73 and extending through one end of the cylinder. Cylinder 70 ofthe hydraulic actuator has a clevis type flange 74 at one extremitywhich is connected to the piston 66 at a flange portion 75 thereof andseceured thereto by a pin 76 which is readily removable for the purposeof disconnecting the actuator from the piston for maintenance purposes.The hollow shaft 73 communicates with a passage 78 in the piston 72 forthe purpose of providing a fluid inlet to one end of the piston with theshaft being threaded at one extremity remote from the piston 76, as at80, and mounted in an upstanding frame portion 82 of a supporting frame85 upon which the dispensing mechanism is mounted. Suitable lock nuts 86positioned on the threaded portion of the shaft secure the same to theupstanding bracket 82 which is in itself adjustably mounted on theremaining frame through slots and apertures permitting the bracket 82 tobe slidably positioned on the frame or bed 85 of the dispensingmechanism and secured thereto by nuts and bolts 88. The extremity of thecylinder 70 opposite the flange 74 has a fluid inlet port 90 with aflexible tube 92 connected thereto at one extremity and leading to anoutlet coupling member 94 in the upstanding frame 82. T his arrangementpermits the cylinder 7 0 of the hydraulic actuator to move and displacethe piston 66 in the measuring chamber 60 or cylinder of the dispensingmechanism during the filling and dispensing operation. The freeextremity of the shaft 73 includes a coupling 95 to which suitablehydraulic lines are connected along with the coupling member 94 todirect hydraulic fluid into and out of the extremities of the cylinderon either side of the piston 72 for the purpose of displacing thecylinder relative to the fixed shaft and piston 72 to urge the pistonmember 66 of the dispensing mechanism in opposite directions within themeasuring chamber or cylinder 60. Also mounted on the shaft 73 is a stopcollar 98 having a guide pin 99 projecting therefrom and through anaperture 100 in the flange 82. The pin is adapted to engage adjustingnuts 1G2 mounted on the threaded portion 80 of the shaft 73 and thisarrangement provides vernier adjustment for the stop collar 98 to limitmovement of the cylinder 70 of the actuator in the direction of theupstanding flange 82 to limit movement of the piston 66 in the directionof filling of the cylinder or measuring chamber 60. Inserts may bepositioned between the adjusting nuts 102 for quick change to smallerfill volumes, if desired. Thus, the bracket portion 82 will be mountedon the frame 85 to fix movement of the actuator and hence the piston 66in the measuring chamber 60 for given desired volumes. A vernieradjustment for the given volumes is provided through adjustment of thenuts 102 on the shaft 80 to adjust the position of the stop collar 98 onthe upstanding bracket 82 to limit movement of the actuator or cylinder70 thereof and hence piston 66 in the measuring chamber for the fineadjustment of these volumes.

This constant volume measuring arrangement permits bulk material, suchas foods in a semi-fluid form, to be removed from the hopper 42 throughthe port 50 of the diverting valve and passage 47 thereof to the port 51and the interior of the measuring cylinder as the piston 66 is movedfrom the limit position against the closed end of the cylinder to theleft. The seal ring 68 will create a partial vacuum in the cylinder 60of the measuring chamber to draw the fluid or semi-fluid material intothe measuring chamber as the piston 66 is moved a given distance.Pressure from the fluid in the hopper will aid this flow of material andthe hopper is normally kept filled or substantially filled throughautomatic or manual means. In this mode of operation, the divertingvalve connects the measuring chamber 60 with the hopper and seals theoutlet passage 52 of the diverting valve. The dispensing mode ofoperation is accomplished by rotating the valve element 46 of thediverting valve to a position where the ports 51 and 52 thereof areconnected and the port 50 is closed. This will connect the measuringchamber 60 with the outlet passage or port 52 in the diverting valve.With such a connection, the material within the measuring chamber may bedispensed by movement of the piston 66 in the measuring chamber orcylinder 60 toward the closed end of the cylinder as indicated in FIGURE2, forcing the material in the measuring chamber out through the passagedefined by ports 62 in the measuring chamber, ports 51 and 52 in thediverting valve and the passage 47 in the rotating element 46 thereof.

The outlet port 52 has a cylindrical flange projecting beyond the body44 of a diverting valve and mounted thercon is a tubular discharge spoutwhich is made of a deformable material, such as soft rubber. Thistubular spout is connected to the flange of port 52 by means of asecuring bracket 112 which is clamped together by a suitable screw andbolt, indicated generally at 114. The

tubular spout forms part of an anti-drip valve, indicated generally at115, which is mounted directly below the diverting valve and operated inconjunction therewith by the same actuator, as will be hereinafterdefined. This tubular spout is adapted to be engaged by a pair of rollermembers 120, 121 (see FIGURES 3-6) which are mounted in roller supports122, 123 respectively and adapted to be pivoted toward and away from thetubular spout to deform the same opening and closing the antidrip valve.The roller supports 122, 123 are generally C-shaped in form with therollers 120, 121 being pivotally mounted therein through stub shaftsjournaled in the roller supports as indicated at 130. This structure ispivoted on a pair of rods 134, 135 which in turn are mounted on asupporting structure formed in part by a pair of plates 136, 137 havingapertures therein through which the rods 134, 135 extend and arejournaled. The plates 136, 137 are in turn mounted on a pair ofcrossbars or plates 140, 141 which are positioned across and secured tothe top rails of the upstanding frame 20 on the table of the fillingmachine. Each of the rods 134, 135 have a downwardly extending or bentportion as indicated at 147, 148 between which is connected to a returnspring 150, if used, as best seen in FIGURE 5. The anti-drip valve isoperated from a hydraulic actuator 160 which is pivotally mounted at oneextremity on a fiange 162 positioned on the base or frame 85 for thedispensing mechanism. The actuator has an operating" shaft 163 carryinga pivot coupling member 164 at the extremity thereof which couplingmember is connected to a platelike crank 165 mounted on the shaft of thediverting valve or its rotating element 46, as indicated at 170, througha recess or split therein and secured thereto by means of a clampingbolt 172 in a conventional manner. The actuator 160 operates thediverting valve and the anti-drip valve simultaneously, the anti-dripvalve being operated through a pivotally connected crank member 175which is pivoted on the plate 165 as at 176, and is pivotally connectedto a second plate 180 as at 181 which moves vertically with the crank175 upon rotation of the plate 165. The upper extremity of the plate 180has a slot 182 therein and the plate 180 is so positioned that the slot180 is positioned around the shaft 170 of the diverting valve to beguided thereon. The opposite extremity of the plate 180 has atranslationally extending slot 185 therein across the width of the same,as will be seen in FIGURES 4 and 5 and a pair of slidably mounted dogsor guides 186 and 187 connected respectively to the roller supports 122,123 and pivoted therein ride in the slot 185 so that as the plate 180 ismoved vertically, the dogs or guides 186, 187 of the roller supports122, 123 will slide therein.

This sliding movement of the dogs or guides 186, 187 in the slot 185will cause pivotal movement of the C- shaped roller supports 122, 123about the axis of pivot defined by the rods 134, 135 extending throughthe plates 136, 137 and causing the rollers 120, 121 thereon to bedirected toward and away from the tubular spout 110 to deform the same.The diverting valve body 44 and hence the cylinder 60 of the measuringchamber are supported on the base through a plate 190 attached to theside of the same remote from the shaft 170. Thus the tubular spout 110secured to the diverting valve is fixed in space. The pivoted rollermembers 122, 123 are supported on the frame formed of the plates 136,137 and 140, 141 which are mounted so as to be supported by theupstanding frame 20 on the table of the machine with the plates beingpivotally operated through the linkages 165, 175 and the plate 180operating to slide the dogs or guide flanges 187, 186 therein. Theplates are limited in their displacement in the opening direction byvirtue of stop pins 195 and 196 respectively mounted in the plate 136 aswill be seen in FIGURE 4. Downward movement of the plate 180 will causethe dogs 186, 187 to slide in the slot 185 toward one another pivotingthe roller supports 122, 123 toward one another with the rollersengaging the tubular spout and rolling down on the same to deform thetubular spout and urge any material therein out of the spout as itclamps the tubular spout to a deformed position. Thus, as will be seenin FIGURE 5, the tubular spout is shown open with the roller supports122, 123 in their maximum raised position against the stops 195, 196 andwith the tubular outlet spout open. As the plate 180 is moved downward,the roller support members 122, 123 slide or pivot toward one anothercausing the rollers to deform the tubular spout such as will be seenfrom the bottom view in FIGURE 6. This will roll out any material in thesame and positively clamp the same closed so that no semi-viscousmaterial will be left on the end of the spout to drip. As the plate 180is moved in the opposite direction due to extension of the shaft 163 andpivoting of the plate in a counterclockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE2, plate will be raised and the bias of the spring 150, if used,together with the operation of actuator 160 will rotate the rollersupports 122, 123 causing the dogs to follow in the slot of plate 180.This will open the spout by moving the roller supports against the stops195, 196.

This improved dispensing structure has its valves operated from a singleactuator 160 which will selectively connect the hopper 42 and themeasuring chamber 60 with retraction of the shaft 163 of the actuatorwhich will similarly cause the plate 180 to close the anti-drip valve.The diverting valve will provide a passage from the inlet port 50through the passage 47 in the rotor or rotating element 46 of thediverting valve to the passages 52 and 62 leading to the interior of themeasuring chamber. Simultaneously with this operation but slightlydelayed therefrom the piston 66 will be moved to the left from theclosed end of the cylinder or chamber 60' drawing material from thehopper into the measuring chamber. The relative size of the actuators160 and 70 operating respectively from four-way control valves (notshown) and the piston of the measuring chamber is such that the smalleractuator will operate the diverting and anti-drip valves substantiallysimultaneously and considerably ahead of the movement of the piston 66.Thus, for filling the measuring chamber, the diverting valve will beopen from the hopper to the measuring chamber with the anti-drip valveclosed closing the spout from the dispenser. The hydraulic actuatoroperating the piston 66 of the measuring chamber will cause the pistonto be moved to the left and create a drop in pressure within themeasuring chamber which will aid or cause the semi-viscous material inthe hopper to pass into the measuring chamber substantially filling thesame for the given displacement of the piston 66. This displacement isadjustable by virtue of moving the upstanding support bracket 82 on thebase 85 which will position the fixed tubular shaft 73 of the actuatoroperating the piston 66 to any desired position. The smaller Verniertype adjustment obtained by adjusting or moving the nut 122 on thethreaded portion of the shaft or tube 80 will adjust the position atwhich the collar 98 will be positioned thereon to limit the movement ofthe cylinder 70 as fluid is directed to the side of the control actuatorremote from the piston 66. The portion of the actuator 70 on the otherside of the control piston 72 will be open through the passage 78 andhollow tubular shaft 73 to allow fluid previously therein to flowtherefrom permitting movement of the cylinder on the shaft 73. Aconventional four-way reversing valve will affect this control. Thephysical size or volume of the portions of the control cylinder of thecontrol actuator operating the piston will be such that actual movementwill not take place until after the actuator 160 has operated thediverting and anti-drip valves. Once the measuring chamber 60 is filledto a desired volume by movement of the piston 66 relative thereto,switch-over of the valving will take place in accord with the overallcontrol timing mechanism. This switch-over will close the port 50 andconnect the ports 51 and 52 of the diverting valve allowing the interiorof the measuring chamber or cylinder 60 to communicate with the outletspout 110. This movement will also have opened the anti-drip valve tothe position shown in FIG- URES 4 and 5 allowing material in themeasuring chamher to be discharged therefrom through the outlet spout116. Such movement of the semi-viscous material will be affected by areversal in direction of operation of the actuator 7t and movement ofthe piston 66 toward the closed end of the cylinder forcing the materialin the measuring chamber out through the passages defined by the ports51, 52 and the passage 47 in the rotary element 46 of the divertingvalve.

This improved filling mechanism or dispenser will normally be operatedin conjunction with other parts of a filling and sealing machine, suchas is shown schematically in FIGURE 1. Thus, the filling of themeasuring chamber will normally take place as the cartons, such as isindicated at 15, are moved on the bed 18 of the filling machine. Theactual dispensing of the semi-viscous fluid material from the measuringchamber into the carton below the discharge spout 110 will normally takeplace in a period of time when the conveying mechanism of the fillingmachine is idle or resetting itself and the sealing jaws 35 aresimultaneously operating to seal a previously filled carton. Such timingsequence will be controlled by the overall control circuit 40 includingits timer in a manner previously described in our co-pending applicationSer. No. 405,530 referred to above. It will be recognized that any typeof filling and sealing machine may be employed with this dispensingmechanism and that varying types of cartons and closures may be appliedthereto. The details of the overall filler form no part of the presentinvention and are omitted for simplicity. This improved fillingmcchanism will handle bulk material of a semi-viscous nature havingparticles therein which would have a tendency to stick to the dispensingspout intermittently falling on the machine or on the cartons at timesother than the filling operation to create a maintenance problem. Thisis particularly true in the case of semiviscous fluids such as chocolatein fluid form. The maintenance problem of drip on cartons to present asaleable item requires that the exterior of the carton show no evidenceof the material included therein. Thus, positive sealoff of thedischarge spout through an anti-drip valve is essential and required.Further, in semi-viscous fluids having particles therein, such ascoleslaw or potato salad, particles that are apt to lodge in thedischarge spout after the dispensing operation. A positive close-offdischarge spout with a mechanism for insuring removal of such particlesis essential for dispensing mechanisms for such materials. In addition,the overall dispensing mechanism must be readily demountable forcleaning and inspection purposes. Therefore the measuring chamber may bereadily removed from the actuator by disconnection of the pin 75 fromthe flange 74 of the piston and the parts disassembled for cleaning.This is also true of the diverting valve. In the improved anti-dripvalve, no moving part of the valve is in contact with the material beingdispensed except for the interior of the tubular member 110 which isreadily removable and cleaned by the release of the same from thedispensing valve.

In considering this invention it should be remembered that the presentdisclosure is intended to be illustrative only and that variations inthe shape of parts and materials may be made within the scope of thesame. Therefore we wish to be limited only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A dispensing device for bulk material comprising, a hopper forholding the material to be dispensed, a constant-volume measuringmechanism including a chamber adapted to be filled from the hopper andpiston means for moving material into and out of the chamber, saidpiston means being effective to draw material from the hopper into thechamber of the constant-volume measuring mechanism through a vacuumcreated when the piston means moves in one direction and force materialfrom the chamber to the outlet spout as the piston means is moved in theopposite direction, a diverting valve connecting the chamber with thehopper to permit passage of material therebetween in one position of thediverting valve, an outlet spout connected to the diverting valve andadapted to receive material from the chamber of the measuring mechanismin another position of the diverting valve, said outlet spout being madeof a deformable material, an antidrip valve formed in part by thedeformable outlet spout and in part by a mechanism for deforming thesame to close said valve and prevent passage of material therethroughsaid mechanism of the antidrip valve including a pair of pivoted rollermembers which are pivotally displaced to roll on the deformable outletspout toward the free extremity of the same to close the same forcingmaterial therein out of the outlet spout, and single means for operatingthe diverting valve and the antidrip valve simultaneously such that thediverting valve connects the chamber with the hopper whenever the outletspout is deformed and connects the chamber and the outlet spout wheneverthe spout is open.

2. The dispensing device for bulk material of claim 1 in which the meansfor moving material into an out of the chamber also includes a hydraulicactuator with a cylinder portion connected to the piston of themeasuring chamber and with a shaft and piston portion connected to aframe supporting the measuring chamber, and including means on the shaftof the hydraulic actuator for adjustably limiting movement of thecylinder portion of the hydraulic actuator in the measuring chamber toadjust the volume of material dispensed from the measuring chamber.

3. The dispensing device for bulk material of claim 2 in which the meansincluded on the shaft for adjustably limiting movement of the piston inthe measuring chamber includes an adjustable stop member positioned onthe shaft of the hydraulic actuator and cooperating stop part positionedon the frame mounting the measuring chamber.

4. The dispensing device for bulk material of claim 3 in which thehydraulic actuator connected to the piston of the measuring chamberincludes a first fluid supply passage through the shaft and pistonportion of the hydraulic actuator to move the cylinder portion of thehydraulic actuator and hence the piston of the measuring chamber in onedirection with a second fluid passage including flexible conduit meansconnected to the extremity of the cylinder portion of the hydraulicactuator remote from the piston to move the piston of the measuringchamber in the opposite direction.

5. A dispensing device for bulk material comprising, a hopper forholding the material to be dispensed, a constant-volume measuringmechanism including a chamber adapted to be filled from the hopper andmeans for moving material into and out of the chamber, a diverting valveconnecting the chamber with the hopper to permit passage of materialtherebetween in one position of the diverting valve, an outlet spoutconnected to the diverting valve and adapted to receive material fromthe chamber of the measuring mechanism in another position of thediverting valve, said outlet spout being made of a deformable material,an antidrip valve formed in part by the deformable outlet spout and inpart by a mechanism for deforming the same to close said valve andprevent passage of material therethrough, said antidrip valve includinga cylindrical and deformable tubular member which forms the deformableoutlet spout attached to a cylindrical outlet port of the divertingvalve, said mechanism for deforming the deformable outlet spoutincluding a pair of pivoted roller members pivotally mounted on a frameand disposed beneath the outlet spout with a portion thereof slidablymounted in a slot of a slidable plate connected through a linkage to thediverted valve, and single means for operating the diverting valve andthe antidrip valve simultaneously such that the diverting valve connectsthe chamber with the hopper whenever the outlet for spout is deformedand connects the chamber with the outlet spout Whenever the outlet spoutis open, said single means being effective to pivot the roller memberstoward one another engaging the deformable outlet spout and moving thematerial therein out of the outlet spout as it is deformed.

6. A dispensing device comprising, a container for holding a material tobe dispensed, a dispensing mechanism having an outlet spout thereonthrough which material is to be dispensed, a first valve including insaid dispensing mechanism and controlling in part the material to bedispensed through the outlet spout in a measured quantity, an antidripvalve formed in part by a deformable tube mounted on the outlet spout ofthe dispensing valve and in part by a deforming mechanism mounted inpart on the first valve, and a single means for operating the firstvalve and the antidrip valve simultaneously such that the first valvewill be open to dispense the material through the outlet spout when theantidrip ,valve is open and will be closed when the deforming mechanismof the antidrip valve is operated to deform the flexible tube to sealthe same, said deforming mechanism having a pair of pivoted rollermembers mounted on a frame which includes a slidably mounted plate witha slot therein and with guide flanges located on the pivoted rollermembers and positioned in the slot of the slidably mounted plate topivot the roller members as the plate is moved in conjunction withoperation of the first valve.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,794,388 3/1931 Mojonnier et a1.222-380 2,107,987 2/1938 Johnson 222-375 2,113,022 4/1938 Hefti 251-6 X2,681,751 6/1954 Stone et a1. 251-6 X 2,761,605 9/1956 Pahl et a1.222-380 X 3,096,914 7/1963 Kerr '222-380 X 3,231,136 1/1966 Rotter eta1. 222-380 X ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

HADD S. LANE, Examiner.

